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Update on Occupy London Eviction from Victoria Park

LONDON, ON, Nov. 9, 2011 /CNW/ - The City is pleased and relieved that
the occupiers of Victoria Park in London, Ontario peacefully left the
park and allowed their tents and belongings to be removed without
incident. Speaking at a news conference this morning, LondonMayor Joe
Fontana and London Police Chief Brad Duncan updated the media on the
overnight activities that took place.

The Mayor and the Chief commended the protesters for peacefully leaving
the encampment. They also commended police and City staff for their
professionalism. The Mayor reiterated the City's real concern for
public safety in the park, including the safety of the protesters as
well as concerns regarding damage to public property.

"These decisions are never easy and this has never been about denying
free speech or free assembly," said Mayor Fontana. "Anyone is free to
gather in our parks during the day and evening but we could not and
would not permit people to occupy a public park indefinitely. We want
to work constructively now with Occupy London on some of the issues
that they raised during our Committee of the Whole Meeting and would
welcome their continued involvement as we seek to better the lives of
Londoners."

"The results speak for themselves," said Police Chief Brad Duncan. "We
were able to peacefully remove the structures from the park without any
violence or arrests."

The City will begin work immediately to repair damages to the park, as
well as take care of seasonal maintenance work including purging the
sprinkler system and completing the seasonal light features.

On a go forward basis, no one will be allowed to erect any tent, shelter
or other structure. Police will continue to enforce the City's By-law
preventing anyone from entering or remaining in Victoria Park between
10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Individuals will be warned of the
consequences under the Trespass to Property Act if they continued to
engage in prohibited activity.

For more information about the eviction, please see the earlier news
release from the London Police Services below:

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Occupy London Protest Eviction

On Tuesday, November 8, 2011 the London Police Service was provided
authorization to act as agents of the City of London for the purposes
of administering the Trespass to Property Act, and to take appropriate
action, including removing people in contravention of the City of
London's by-laws and the Trespass to Property Act.

Also on this date, occupiers of Victoria Park were provided notice of
their contravention of the applicable City of London by-laws, which
clearly prohibits them from engaging in specific conduct. They were
ordered to immediately abide by these bylaws and were given notice that
if by 6:00 p.m. they did not abide by these bylaws that any tents,
shelters or other such structures would be removed by, or on behalf of,
The Corporation of the City of London. They were further ordered to
cease and desist from entering or remaining in Victoria Park between
10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the following day, or any subsequent day.
Furthermore they were warned of the consequences under the Trespass to
Property Act if they continued to engage in prohibited activity.

At 12:40 a.m. on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 the London Police Service
attended Victoria Park to enforce these by-laws. Also in attendance
were employees from the City of London to remove any structures that
were in violation of the city by-law. All the structures that were in
the park have now been removed.

The London Police Service made no arrests and no occupiers or police
officers were injured during this operation.